S-G bike trail to be paved

A cooperative effort between Scotia, Glenville and Schenectady County officials is set to smooth out the bike trail.

After drainage issues and several years of usage the Scotia-Glenville bike path following the Mohawk River is set to be paved. The funding for the project is provided by a grant the county had received and is for recreational purposes. Drainage issues along the trail will be addressed by Glenville before the paving starts. The drainage repairs are estimated to cost no more than $1,500 and the total project is estimated to cost $35,000 according to Glenville Supervisor Christopher Koetzle.

The bike trail has been there for a long time and at one time it was paved. The condition of it has deteriorated, said Scotia Mayor Kris Kastberg. "You would be surprised how much use that stretch of the bike trail gets even now."

The current bike path isn't paved in all sections with a rougher stone base along a portion of it. The path starts near the former waste water treatment plant in the village and ends on Freeman's Bridge near the Water's Edge Lighthouse Restaurant. The path stretches approximately 1.2 miles.

Kastberg tried to kick the project off last year, but a solid plan was never formed. The town didn't want to commit to paving plans until the drainage work was done and last summer talks began with the county for funding.

"This year most of my conversation has been with the town," said Kastberg.

The village has started work to fix the drainage issues around the train bridge near the Scotia end of the path, said Kastberg, which accounts for some of the damager and wear to the trail. Also, flooding of the Mohawk River has affected the trail to deteriorate it further.